Billy Ray Cyrus has revealed that his decision to perform for presidents of both political parties is rooted in a childhood lesson from his father about respecting office.
talking with Sky News on Tuesday, April 14, the 64-year-old singer explained that even though his father was a lifelong Democrat who served in the Kentucky legislature, he always taught his son that when a president asks for your help, you answer the call.
Cyrus noted that this upbringing has led him to work with a wide variety of leaders from both sides of the aisle, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, both George HW and George W. Bush, and most recently Donald Trump.
The country star, who famously performed at the Liberty Ball in January 2025 to celebrate Trump’s second inauguration, emphasized that his participation in such events comes from a place of prayer for the country and the world rather than party loyalty.
He described being president as a “hard job” and shared that his goal is to find things that bring people together.
While his performance last year grabbed headlines for the wrong reasons due to major technical difficulties, Cyrus defended his performance at the time, saying he would not have missed out on the honor of playing the event whether his equipment worked or not.
During the 2025 set, Cyrus faced a series of “epic” malfunctions, with his microphone and guitar frequently cutting out, eventually forcing him to close with an acoustic, a cappella version of his signature hit, Achy Breaky Heart.
He famously challenged the audience during the broadcast, asking if anyone was still awake and if they wanted him to keep singing or just “get the hell off the stage.”
Despite receiving “train wrecks” on social media, he remained defiant, telling fans that in life you have to keep going, or as the president would say, “you have to fight.”
Cyrus was part of a star-studded lineup for the inauguration festivities that included the likes of Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Kid Rock.
He noted that even seasoned pros like Underwood faced their own technical hurdles during the ceremony, but he believes that “rock n roll” is about entertaining the people, even when the equipment goes to hell.
For Cyrus, performing at such a high-profile event was a simple matter of following his father’s old advice: When the commander-in-chief invites you to the stage, you go and do your job for the people.
